MassMutual has launched the Society of Grownups, which is intended to help young adults develop a road map for their financial future. Geared toward 25- to 40-year-olds, the Society of Grownups offers them a place to go to engage in discussions about their goals and dreams and develop a financial plan to achieve them, said Nondini Naqui, the society’s director.

The group has an office in Brookline, Mass., as well as a Web site, Facebook page, Twitter account and various other social media sites.

Financial advice is offered in a casual setting at the Brookline location through a series of classes, supper clubs and guest speaker events, said Naqui. Individual sessions with an advisor are also offered.

One class, “Getting Better With Age,” is about retirement—and wine. “We bring in a sommelier who talks about how wine gets better with age and how you should diversify your palate,” said Naqui. “And we have a financial advisor co-teach that class and talk about how your retirement funds should get better with age and how you should diversify your portfolio.”

No products are sold, and advisors provide unbiased advice, according to Naqui. “The Society of Grownups is about providing this group with a broad range of knowledge and skills to become competent and savvy when it comes to handling their own money.”
To find out more visit www.societyofgrownups.com.


Praxis Invests In EYE Bond
The Praxis Intermediate Income Fund has purchased $2.5 million in the inaugural EYE Bond, offered through the Inter-American Development Bank. The new bond is designed to support loans that specifically focus on education, youth and employment programs in the Caribbean and Latin America.

“This bond fits seamlessly with our goal to purchase investments that make financial sense and also benefit the global community. It’s one way we are investing in what matters,” said Benjamin Bailey, co-manager of the fund.


Orion And HiddenLevers Integrate Platforms
Orion Advisor Services, an accounting service provider for investment advisors, offers integration between its reporting software and the HiddenLevers portfolio stress-testing platform.

Financial advisors using Orion can import accounts directly into HiddenLevers’ cloud-based software and use its stress-testing tools to help clients understand risk/reward trade-offs and showcase hedging strategies. With a single sign-on, the integration provides an interactive experience for clients and models scenarios such as rising interest rates, Middle East turmoil, and global deflation.

Fidelity Launches Three Active Bond ETFs
Boston-based Fidelity Investments has introduced the company’s first suite of actively managed fixed-income ETFs.
The three new funds—the Fidelity Total Bond ETF, the Fidelity Limited Term Bond ETF and the Fidelity Corporate Bond ETF—can be purchased commission-free. They bring the total number of Fidelity’s actively managed fixed-income ETFs to 84.

Since active ETF investing is a relatively new area for many investors, Fidelity also offers a series of educational videos on its Web site that explore some of the common questions investors ask when deciding whether to invest in a mutual fund or an ETF.


LeaderMetrics Released By Trone And Wattman
3ethos co-founders Donald Trone and Mary Lou Wattman have co-authored a new book, entitled LeaderMetrics, What Key Decision-Makers Need To Know When Serving In A Critical Leadership Role. The book aims to integrate three subjects—leadership, stewardship and governance.

Designed to reach readers in a variety of ways, the book offers points of inspiration and real-world examples of leaders rising to challenges.

It is a desktop reference for improving your skills and inspiring your team. The LeaderMetrics framework is universal and can be used by decision-makers in any domain—corporate, not-for-profit, government and military, according to the authors.


Allianz Policy Protects Two Lives
Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America has launched its Life Pro+ Survivor Fixed Index Universal Life Insurance Policy. The product offers death benefit protection for two lives plus cash value accumulation. The death benefit is paid after the second insured person’s death. Insuring two people in one policy may be a cost-effective solution for business owners in their continuation planning, as it leverages the mortality risk of two insured people, says Allianz.

The policy also offers customers access to their available cash value in a variety of ways that are income-tax free.